Moment Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killer tries to gun down drug dealer in botched street ‘hit’

This is the shocking moment cannabis dealer Thomas Cashman started shooting at his intended victim in a botched ‘hit’ which ended with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

CCTV footage released by Merseyside Police shows Cashman, 34, open fire on convicted burglar Joseph Nee and chase him down a street in Dovecot, Liverpool, last August.

But as the balaclava-clad killer towered over Nee, 36, just before 10pm, his Glock-style handgun malfunctioned allowing Nee to escape and run for his life.

Nee then forced his way into the home of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel when her mother Cheryl, 46, opened her front door upon hearing the gunshots ringing through the streets.

Cashman, in ‘ruthless pursuit’ of Nee and armed with two guns, then opened fire, striking Mrs Korbel in the hand and hitting Olivia in the chest moments after she ran downstairs saying: ‘Mum, I’m scared.’

The court heard that during the gunfire, Cashman was able to get his hand around the side of the door and fired again, with the bullet lodging in the internal door frame.

The shooter then ran off and Nee stumbled outside the house on Kingsheath Avenue, where he was picked up in a car and taken to hospital, the court heard.

Armed officers attended and Olivia was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The murder shocked the nation and saw an outpouring of grief in Liverpool, a city that was shook by the senseless murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in 2007.

Cashman had denied the murder, at times breaking down in tears as he gave testimony during his 18-day trial at Manchester Crown Court. Proceedings could not be held in Liverpool over fears he would not receive a fair trial. 

At one point, the father wept in the dock as he told the jury: ‘I am getting the blame for something I haven’t done.

‘I’m getting blamed for killing a child and I have got my own children. I’m a dad, I’m not a killer.’

Thomas Cashman (pictured left), 34, was chasing Joseph Nee (right), 36 – the intended target of a botched gangland hit that resulted in the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Nine-year-old Olivia died after being shot at her house in Dovecot, Liverpool, in August last year

He claimed he had been elsewhere ‘smoking a spliff’ with a friend and counting £10,000 when the murder happened.

But it was the ‘incredible bravery’ of the prosecution’s star witness – who has been granted lifelong anonymity – who had a relationship with him that was key in convicting him.

The witness, who had been having an on-off fling with Cashman, said he came to her home on August 22 to change his clothes. 

She told the court she overheard him say he had ‘done Joey’.

In his attempts to deny the murder, Cashman tried to discredit the witness, painting her as a ‘scorned’ woman who was trying to ‘ruin’ his life because he would not leave his partner for her.

Cashman also tried to paint further doubt over the woman’s claim, saying her boyfriend owed him £25,000 over a drug debt and wanted him out the way.

During the trial, Cashman admitted being a ‘high-level cannabis dealer’ who made between £3,000 and £5,000 a week selling about 5 to 10kg of marijuana

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The woman said she had now left Liverpool but was still ‘terrified’ of giving evidence against Cashman but had chosen to do so because a child had died.

‘When there’s a little girl involved, there’s no form of grassing in my world,’ she said.

‘Because of this little girl. I just feel like if he was any sort of man, he would just… own it.

‘I can’t believe he’s making her family go through this. It’ s child, it’s a child. They all should be ashamed of themselves who are supporting him as well.’

Kingsheath Avenue, Liverpool, where Olivia was shot dead in her home last August 

Unconvinced by his version of events, the jury took a matter of hours to find Cashman guilty on all charges, including the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, grievous bodily harm against Olivia’s mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

As relief sounded through the courtroom from her devastated family today, the callous ruthlessness of her killer was plain to see in his police-issued mugshot.

Cashman’s cold, dead eyes could be seen staring down the lens as he is shown with his head thrown back in arrogant aggression.

He bowed his head and cried as he was convicted of the schoolgirl’s murder. He now faces life behind bars and will be sentenced on Monday.

Upon leaving the court, Mrs Corbel told reporters she was feeling ‘ecstatic’ over the verdict, raising a pink teddy bear into the air and shouting ‘yes!’

Cashman’s partner Kayleanne Sweeney pictured leaving the courtroom following his guilty verdict

There were gasps and then tears of relief from Olivia’s relatives when the jury returned their unanimous verdicts. 

Her mother Cheryl clutched the pink soft toy while her surviving daughter Chloe sobbed. Police officers around them were also overwhelmed. 

Amid chaotic scenes he wiped away tears in the dock and turned to his supporters in the public gallery, shaking his head.

His family, including his sister, then left the courtroom shouting, swearing and protesting his innocence, yelling: ‘We’ll appeal it.’ They also screamed at police, claiming they had the wrong man. 

His partner, Kayleanne Sweeney was pictured leaving the courtroom, as was his family who were shouting and protesting Cashman’s innocence. 

Olivia’s family – her father John, mother Cheryl and brother and sister Chloe and Ryan – were also at court.

Upon leaving, Mrs Corbel told a scrum of reporters she was feeling ‘ecstatic’ over the verdict, raising a pink teddy bear into the air and shouting ‘yes!’

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, speaking after Cashman was found guilty, said: ‘The Prime Minister’s thoughts remain with the family and friends of Olivia during what must be an incredibly difficult time.’ 

Sentencing has been adjourned until April 3.